Italian divers on Wednesday morning discovered five additional bodies after a luxury superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily earlier in the week, bringing the confirmed death toll to six. One person remains missing following the tragic incident. The 184-foot British-flagged superyacht, named Bayesian, was carrying a group of English entrepreneurs and tourists when it capsized and sank in the early hours of Monday due to severe weather conditions. The vessel was anchored near the port of Porticello when the disaster struck. Despite efforts to rescue everyone aboard, the sinking resulted in multiple fatalities.

Five More Bodies Recovered After Yacht Capsizes

The search and rescue mission, which initially saved 15 people, was marked by the tragic discovery of more bodies on Wednesday. On Monday, the body of the yacht’s chef, Recaldo Thomas, was recovered, and five more were found in the days that followed. The identities of these victims have not been disclosed to the public. Among those still missing are two Americans and four British nationals, whose families are anxiously awaiting news.

Elite Passengers Among the Rescued and Missing

Among the survivors of the sinking is Ayla Ronald, a senior associate at the global law firm Clifford Chance. Ronald was part of a legal team celebrating a recent legal victory in the United States, where billionaire tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch was acquitted of fraud charges. Her father, Lin Ronald, reported that she had informed him of the tragic deaths but provided no further updates on the status of other missing passengers or crew.

The missing Americans include Christopher Morvillo, a prominent New York City partner at Clifford Chance who played a key role in Lynch’s defense, and his wife, Neda Morvillo, a jewelry designer. The couple’s disappearance has left their family and colleagues in shock. Clifford Chance released a statement expressing their deep sadness and concern, emphasizing their priority of supporting the Morvillo family and their colleague Ayla Ronald.

Unpredictable Weather and Tornado Suspected in Tragedy

The cause of the yacht’s sinking appears to be linked to a sudden and severe weather event, possibly a tornado. Civil protection officials in Italy have suggested that such an unpredictable storm could have contributed to the capsize. The Italian Coast Guard, involved in the rescue operations, noted that while bad weather had been forecasted, the intensity of the storm was beyond what had been anticipated.

At the time of the incident, the Bayesian was carrying 12 passengers and 10 crew members. The sinking occurred around 5 a.m. on Monday, leaving little time for those aboard to react. Survivors have recounted the chaos of the moment as the yacht was overwhelmed by powerful winds and rough seas.